Remote video surveillance has dramatically improved after-hours security at the John Telford Clinic in Ilford, Essex. After numerous incidents of vandalism, the clinic’s security was upgraded to monitored CCTV, using Secom’s Vision service. As a result, criminal activity and attacks on the building have virtually stopped.
Martin Freeston, Redbridge PCT’s assistant director, estates and capital planning, said incidents at the 10-year-old building had reached “epidemic proportions”. The attacks included breakins, graffiti and a serious fire, which led to a repair bill of more than £300,000. The clinic’s forecourt and grounds were also a popular haunt of drug users.
He said: “When CCTV was installed in the town centre, the clinic grounds became a popular alternative meeting place. Things became so bad that we were paying for 24 hour on-site security and we had screwed all the windows shut in an effort to keep burglars out.”
After the arson incident, the PCT decided that tighter security was essential. Secom worked with the PCT to achieve the best solution and the Secom Vision service was selected. Motion sensitive cameras cover the clinic and its grounds, automatically relaying images of activity around the building to the trained response operators at Secom’s remote Video Response Centre. The operators are trained to assess security situations, summoning police if necessary.
Martin Freeston continued: “In the year since Vision was installed, we have had no serious incidents around the clinic. We are now planning to extend the service to more of the PCT’s sites.”
Vision was developed specially for external protection of buildings and open sites, and is a cost-effective alternative to on-site guarding. A person trespassing on the property triggers an alarm and within seconds will be watched by Secom operators. The cameras provide information for the operators to distinguish between legitimate behaviour and potentially criminal activity. As calls to the police are better qualified, there is less risk of false alarms. Vision installations may be configured to allow operators to issue warnings via loudspeakers.
